ed due in point of politeness,
the three girls stopped to arrange their disordered attire in the path,
before taking the main thoroughfare through the village. As they
adjusted their hats and straightened skirts, they were suddenly
conscious of being watched--had that feeling of eyes questioning them.

All three turned suddenly as if answering a voice. As they did so they
faced a man--actually confronted him, almost brushing against him.

"Oh!" exclaimed Grace involuntarily.

"Pardon, miss," spoke the man in a distinctly foreign accent, "but were
you not with the child, the Maid Mary? Have you seen her to-day? Yes?
No?"

Cleo was the first to realize the possible significance of this
seemingly inoffensive query, and her look to the other girls signaled
them to be cautious.

"We have only been in the mountain, and were caught in the shower," she
replied evasively, "and it does not seem to be all over yet so we must
hurry. Come on, girls!" she called, and when the foreigner asked the
next question he had the echo of his own voice for an answer.

CHAPTER VIII

SUNSET'S INSPIRATIONS

"Now, you see, we will have more trouble to reach her. That man knew
we were in the cave, and he also knew Mary and old Reda were behind the
next rock. He must have followed us all the way down the hill!" This
was Cleo's almost breathless pronouncement, made directly she and Grace
reached the porch of the cottage. Lalia had declined their invitation
to rest a few minutes before getting into more comfortable attire, so
she was not in the conference.

"You could see he was related to the old woman," replied Grace. "His
eyes and that kinky hair made him look so much like her."

"They are surely natives of the same country," commented Cleo, "but
they may not be related to each other. Oh, I'm so disappointed; I felt
sure we could get to the girl's house this afternoon. And did you hear
her courage voiced in that decided threat? That she would go away, and
that it, whatever it was, is lost forever? Could they be holding Mary
for ransom?"

"Kidnapped, do you mean?" gasped Grace.

"I don't know what I do mean, but I sort of wish Uncle Guy were home.
If we run into too much danger he would surely know how to rescue us,"
concluded Cleo.

"Don't let's tell Madaline. She might be too nervous, and I guess she
and Jennie had a fine time planting their lettuce after the shower,"
said Grace quietly.

"Oh, did you get cau